2012 Audi R-18 e-tron quattro for Le Mans

Now called the R18 ultra - the hybrid earns its quattro tag with electric drive to the front wheels.

When we read the word Tron we can't help but think about the famed sci-fi movie with the dreadful sequel, but it's time to let that go.

Audi is forcing our hand with its hybrid Le Mans race car, officially named R18 e-tron quattro. Otherwise identical to the R18 TDI that won Le Mans last year - and is now called the R18 ultra - the hybrid earns its quattro tag with electric drive to the front wheels.

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2012 Audi R-18 e-tron quattro for Le Mans

At the back of the R-18 e-tron is the expected 510-bhp V-6 diesel. What changes is up front. Following Le Man's rule book, hybrid energy retrieval is confined to one axle. There, roughly 70 bhp can be captured then transmitted to that same axle in braking zones defined by the race organizers. Audi can recover energy braking into a corner and use the added power and the traction of all-wheel drive when accelerating. This must be effective if it rains.

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2012 Audi R-18 e-tron quattro for Le Mans

This application of the added power is all done automatically with no interaction from the driver, though Audi says that after testing, "According to driver comments the additional front wheel drive is, however, clearly noticeable dynamically."

Toyota, which knows a thing or two about hybrids, is also developing a racer for Le Mans. Their TS030 will use supercapacitors to store the energy, while Audi has opted for an electric flywheel accumulator system from Williams Hybrid Power, the company that supplies the same for Porsche's 911 GT3-R Hybrid. This is a carbon fiber flywheel that spins in a vacuum.

2012 Audi R-18 e-tron quattro for Le Mans

(Friends, let us not forget that Chrysler headed this direction in 1993 with its Patriot turbine/flywheel racer car.)

While the R-18 e-tron quattro will get its competition debut at the 6-hour race at Spa on May 5, it will be tested at Sebring after the 12-hour race in March. We'll be there...stay tuned.

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